Delhi HC to hear pleas against demonetisation on December 22

Delhi High Court today adjourned till December 22 the hearing on pleas challenging the demonetisation move after it was informed that the Supreme Court is seized of the matter.

As the bench headed by Chief Justice G Rohini did not assemble today, the counsel for the petitioners sought a date after December 15 as the apex court will hear similar issues.

The court adjourned the matter to December 22.

The counsel said that the Supreme Court is seized of the pleas challenging the November 8 decision to demonetise high value currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 and also the petition filed by the government seeking transfer of matters pending before various high courts to either the apex court or one of the high courts.

The high court bench was hearing two separate pleas, one of which has sought discontinuation of new Rs 2,000 currency notes.

The other petition has sought a direction to the Centre to ensure that all the ATMs are dispensing cash and people do not suffer.

One of the petitioners, Pooja Mahajan, who runs a designer showroom, has questioned the government allowing certain public utilities including hospitals and petrol pumps to use the old notes.

In her plea, she has also claimed that the government has taken a dual stand as on the one hand it was encouraging people to deposit old notes in bank accounts and on the other hand, it was threatening them of prosecution for depositing over Rs 2.5 lakh.

She has also urged the HC to quash various notifications with regard to demonetisation which were issued on and after November 8, alleging that they are in contravention of the Constitution of India and Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Act.

Another petition, filed by Birender Sangwan, has sought direction to the government to ensure that all the ATMs are dispensing cash.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had on November 8 announced the demonetization of Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 notes.